Lagos State Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, and the Chief Executive Officer of Mudi Africa, Mudiagha Clement, have urged boys to stay disciplined and focused to achieve their goals in life.
The commissioner and other shared these words of wisdom during the Lagos Boy Child Initiative (LBCI) workshop, organized by Lagos State First Lady, Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, held at Agbowa-Ikosi Model College.
The event, which marked the third edition of the workshop, brought together over 200 boys from private and public schools, orphanages, and technical schools.
The three-day residential workshop, which began in 2022, is aimed at empowering boys and shaping their futures.
The initiative has reached over 400 boys in total across the three editions.
Addressing the participants, Wahab encouraged the boys not to let their background define their future.
He stressed the importance of discipline, consistency, and focus.
“Find your purpose in life. Don’t let your background limit you. Be consistent, avoid distractions, and stay focused on your dreams. The money will follow if you chase your purpose, not just money,” Wahab said.
He further emphasized that every boy should have a clear vision of his goals and remain resilient despite challenges.
He also praised the First Lady for focusing on the boy child, noting that nurturing boys is key to building strong homes.
Mudiagha Clement also emphasized the critical role of discipline in self-improvement.
He highlighted that talent alone is not enough for success without the foundation of discipline.
“No matter how talented you are, discipline is key. Focus on improving yourself and prioritize your education,” Mudi said.
The workshop concluded with a cooking competition, where five teams of five boys competed.
The winners, Team Ikeja, were awarded N100,000 shopping vouchers for each member, while the second-place team, Team Lagos Island, and third-place team, Team Epe, each received N50,000 vouchers.
The boys expressed their gratitude for the opportunity to be part of the initiative.
Oluwole Oluwatoba from St. Thomas Catholic School thanked the First Lady, noting that the lessons learned would be valuable in his future career.
“I’ve learned a lot, especially about resisting drug abuse, rape, and gender-based violence. This program was well organized, and I’m grateful to the First Lady for it,” he said.
Nwokorie Emmanuel of AirForce Secondary School, Shasha, also shared his appreciation.
“I met important figures like the Deputy Governor and Chief Judge of Lagos State. I’m thankful to Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu for giving me this opportunity,” he said.
The LBCI workshop continues to serve as a powerful platform for equipping boys with the tools they need for a successful future.